Lawmaker welcomes losing votes over ‘no helmet, no driving ordinance’

By Felipe V Celino

ROXAS CITY,  Capiz – Sanggunian Panlungsod (SP) member John Paul Arcenas has welcomed the “no vote” threats of some critics and individuals in the next local elections following the strict implementation of the No Helmet, No Driving Ordinance by the Traffic Management Unit (TMU) here since August 1, 2023.

The TMU and other traffic enforcers apprehended 84 persons for violating the ordinance.

TMU head Gonzalo Andrada said 65 individuals were arrested on the first day of the implementation and 19 more the following day.

Apart from not wearing crash helmets, some of the purported violators were also apprehended for lack of a valid driver’s license and expired vehicle registration papers.

Violators were given five days to pay the fine or else their citation tickets issued by the enforcers will be forwarded to the City Prosecutor’s Office for filing of cases.

Arcenas chairs the Committee on Infrastructure, Public Works, and Beautification of the Roxas City Council.

Arcenas told Daily Guardian that he is not bothered by the thought of losing votes due to the implementation of the ordinance.

He said he wants to protect motorcycle riders the reason he authored the law apart from the support of fellow Councilors Paul Ivan Baticados and Albert Gregory Potato, who are both lawyers by profession.

“If I run again in 2025, please don’t vote for me kay gin-proteksyunan ko ang inyo kabuhi, ga-care ako sa inyo so ginpapasar ta ina nga ordinansa. Please indi niyo ko pagbotoha kay wala gid ko ya nahadlok,” Arcenas said.

Under the ordinance, the drivers are obliged to wear Standard Protective Motorcycle Helmet while in the territorial jurisdiction of the city which includes the national highways, provincial, city, and barangay roads.

The helmet should be based on the specifications set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and in good wearable condition without crack or damage, the ordinance added.

Violators would be fined P500 for the first offense, P1,000 on the second offense, P3,000 on the third, and P5,000 on the fourth and subsequent offenses.